Meter trough



Jan. 31, 1939. A. BRYPINSKI METER THOUGH Filed June 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l oRNEY womb! Jan. 31,` 1939. A. B. RYPlNsKl METER THOUGH Filed June 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTO ,lm/SW ZTTO RNEY

Jan. 31, 1939. A. BV RYP|NSK| 2,145,557

METER THOUGH Filed June 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVNTOR BY d I TTORNEY Jan. 3l, v1939.

A. B. RYPINSKI METER TROUGH Filed June 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVE TORNEY.

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 PATENT OFFICE METER TRGUGH Albert B. nypinski, Laureltn, N. lv., assignor to Metropolitan Device Corporation, a corporation of New York REiSSUED cci 21 1941 ,Application June .'19, 1937, serial No. 149,120

6 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to. a meter trough and in particular to a meter trough that is especially suitable for the socket type of watt hour meter that is commonly used for meas-v uring the consumption of electricity. While certain of the features of the invention are especially suitable to mounting a plurality of such meters, the invention is not limited to a multiple meter trough, as certain features of the invention are suitable to a meter trough for a single meter.

In electrical installations serving buildings having several independent consumers, it is the usual practice to mount theA several meters, one for each consumer, upon a common meter board. With polyphase distribution systems that are now generally used, it is common practice, Where several meters are mounted together, to balance the circuit at the service connectors and it is an object of this invention to provide a completely enclosed multiple meter trough having a system of main and sub-busses which lend themselves to connection for the purpose of balancing the circuit.

y Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a meter trough of this type in which each meter unit is complete in itself and in which the units are removable and interchangeable.

A furtherv object of the invention is to provide a meter trough of this type that is simple'in construction and in which solderless connectors are service mains to the meter sockets and the meter sockets to the load wires and interconnecting the several meters in a multiple meter trough.

A meter trough embodying the invention and in which the foregoing objects and certain advantages that will hereinafter appear are realized, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a meter trough, with certain parts removed, suitable for three meters of the socket type;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the trough with parts removed; i

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. l and having the meter collarin place;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the irregular line 5--5 of Fig. 1 with the meter collar removed; and

Fig. 6 is a plan of a part of a meter socket.

The meter trough illustrated in the drawings includes a sheet metal trough having a bottom wall I, end walls 2 and 3, and side walls 4 and 5.

used throughout for the purpose of connecting the The meter trough is opened up at the upper end thereof and the side and end Walls are bent laterally to form a circumambient iiange. The trough is rectangular in plan and within the trough there is a longitudinal partition 6 that 11 divides the trough into a service compartment 'Ia and a load compartment 1b. The partition 6 has a plurality of spaced sections 8, three in number, that are of lesser width than a side wall of the v compartment or the other portions of the par- 10 tition. v

Within the service compartment la, and adjacent the central section of the partition 8 of lesser width, there is mounted a connector block 9. The connector block 9 includes a base 9a that is .f formed from electrical insulating material. This base is secured to the bottom wall I of the trough, and mounted on the base there are a pair of solderless electrical connectors I Il and II. The solderless connector I I, as seen in Fig. 5, includes an L-shaped strip metal piece I Ia that is secured to the connector block by a screw I2. This L- shaped piece IIa has one iiange thereof secured to the connector block and the other iiange extends substantially perpendicular to the surface 25 of the block or to the bottom wall I of the trough. An inverted L-shaped piece II b is pivotally secured to the piece I la on an extension I Ie. of the member IIa that extends through a slot in the member IIb. The member IIb has a tongue I Id that iits into a corresponding slot in the member IIa. Through the member IIb, a set screw I3 is threaded. For inserting a wire, the portion .I Ib is released from the portion Ila and swung about its pivotal connection thereto. The Wire 35 is then laid in the connector between the members IIa and II b and the portion I Ib is moved about its pivot so that the tongue IId extends through the slot in the portion I la. In this position, the connector forms a substantially rectan- 40 gular tubular member through which the electric Wire extends. When the set screw I3 is tightened on the Wire, the Wire is forced into Contact with the side walls of the connector and mechanically and electrically secured and connected to the 45 connector.

Cooperating with the connector II there is a strip metal electrical conductor I4. This Conductor has a section Ila that is received in the solderless connector II and secured to the base 50 thereof by the machine screw I2. The conductor I4 also has a vertically extending section Mb and a lateral section Hc at the upper end of the vertical section Mb. The connector Ill is similar in all respects to the connector I I and a strip f the trough. The portion of the wires I'I and I8 at the connectors and I0 respectively are bared andsecured in the connectors as previously described, the conductor I8 being mechanically and electrically connected to the connector block 8 by the connector I0 and the conductor I'I being connected to the connector block by the solderless connector |I. If the meter trough be the last in v a line or' the only one in the building, the supply wires may terminate at the connector block 8. If on the other hand they are to supply addi- -tional circuits they may proceed straight through the 'supply compartment 'Ia and out through the opposite end wall.

The conductor I6, which is the neutral or ground conductor of a three-wire, single-phase system, is electrically and mechanically connected to the base I of the meter trough by vav. solderless connector I9 that is secured to the base of the lmeter trough. The conductor I6 is thus ground- A ed. In conjunction with this ground, there is provided a ground strip conductor or bus-barn that is secured to the base I ofthe meter trough, passes through an opening through the partition 6, and that has a section v2lla that is oiset from the base I of the trough.

`Extending transversely of the meter trough,v

there are three bridge elements 2|, one for each of the sections 8 of the partition 6. At the center of each section 8, there is formed a lateral ange 8a. The bridge element 2| consists ofa strip of heavy sheet metal and on one end there is formed a tongue 2 la of lesser width than the strip. This tongue 2Ia is received in a slot formed in the Side wall 4 of the service compartment la. The strip extends transversely or the trough and rests upon the edge of the section 8 and the flange 8a2 the strip wholly traversing the service compartment and extending into and slightly beyond the central longitudinal line of the load compartment. The bridge element is secured Vto the V ,ilange 8a by a bolt 2lb.

Each bridge 'element forms a support for a meter socket. Since the three meter sockets are identical in construction, only one, the central lmeter socket, willbe described. This one is shown more in detail-in Fig. 6. Similar parts of the other meter socket are, however, indicatedv by corresponding numerals, primed in one instance and double primed'in the other.

each,of the meter-contact jaws 26a and 2Gb there is secured a strip conductor, 21a and 2'Ib respectively. These strip connectors extend. when the The meter socket includes the bridge element 2| and meter socket is in position in the trough, substantially parallel to the base of the trough and they are positioned so that the strip conductor 21a bears against the lateral extension of the strip connector I5 extending from the connector block 9 and connected to the conductor I8 and the strip connector 2lb contacts with and bears vagainst the lateral extension of the strip conallel to the side walls thereof. The sub-bus 28 and the strip conductors are mechanically secured together and electrically connected through a set screw 28a which extends through the base of the inverted, U-shaped solderless connector and securely clamps the three conductors together. A similar solderless connector 28a secures the strip conductors |4, 2lb and a sub-bus' 30 together. The sub-busses 29and 30 extend along the trough longitudinally thereof and are connected to the corresponding strip conductorsv of each of the meter sockets in the trough, there being three meter sockets in the trough disclosed in the drawings.' The sub-busses are connected to the strip conductors of the other meter sockets through similar solderless connectors.

It is to be noted that there is but one service connector block for the several meter sockets in the trough. The service mains or conductors are connected to the meter socket directly thereover and the service current`is distributed to the several other meter sockets through the sub-busses as described.

On theend of the bridge element 2| that extends into the service compartment of the meter trough, there is mounted a connector block 3|. 'I'his connector block consists of a base of insulating material that is mounted upon the bridge element. 'Ihe block has a reduced portion 3Ia that extends slightly above the lateral ilange of tlie side wall of the service compartment. One of the'shoulders, that adjacent the side wall of the compartment, formed by reducing the crosssectional area of the block to form the extension 3Ib, abuts against the inner side of the lateral ange oi.' the side wall and the block 3| is thus each recess, secured to the b'ase thereof, thereA is a conducting strip 32 on one Yend of which there is mounted a solderless connector 33 and' to the other endof which there is connected a conductor 34. 'I'he conductor 34 is also connected to the meter-contact jaw 25h of the'meter socket con-V ductor on the meter socket block 23. The con ductor 34 is a solid piece of metal throughout, one end being flattened to iit under the metercontact jaw 25h and the other end, which extends. vertically upward through thebase of the block loA is connected by a similar conductor to a metercontact jaw 25a on the block 23. To the solderless connectors in these recesses the load wires are connected.

For the purpose of entering the load wires into the recess in the block, the corner of the block is slotted as shown in Fig. 6 at the corner thereof and through this slot the load wire 36 enters the recess and the solderless connector. .Proper knockouts are 'provided in the side wall of the load compartment through which the/load wires enter the load compartment.

The four meter-contact jaws mounted on the two blocks secured to a bridge element 2i together with clip connector 31, that is directly secured and electrically connected through a strip 31a to the bridge element 2| and forms the ground connection for the meter, constitute the clip connectors for the meter. There is thus mounted on the bridge element ve meter-contact jawsaadapted to receivel the blades of a socket type meter which are positioned to correspond to the positionof these meter-contact Jaws.

The ground connection for the service lines may be made to the bus 2li at the section 20a. These connections are in like manner made through a solderless connector. The section a is of suilicient length to receive three solderless connectors, one for each of the load circuits served by the meters.

A separate cover plate 38 is provided for each section of the meter trough that includes a meter socket. Each of these cover plates is identical in construction and includes a iiat strip of sheet metal having a circular opening therethrough `with a circumambientlateral iiange 38a formed thereon. Surrounding this ilange and secured to the cover, there is a cast metal collar 39 that has a diametrical, substantially channel-shaped member 39a integral therewith and below the level of the under side of the cover plate. One edge 3817 of the cover plate isoffset so that it extends over the edge of the succeeding cover plate. When the cover plate is in position, the flanges `of the diametrical member 39'a are received in the slots corresponding to the slots 23a and 23h in the blocks carrying the meter-contact jaws. The diametrical member has openings therethrough to receive-bolts 24 which extend through the insulating blocks carrying the clip connectors. The blocks carrying the meter-contact jaws and the cover for each meter socket are thus secured together to the bridge elements by the bolts. On the lower surface of the diametrical memberthere is provided'a metal strip 40 which extends under the lateral ange on the side wall of the meter trough. The cover for -each section is thus secured in place.

having an opening through which the member 4I',l

is received in they closed position thereof. When the cover is opened, access may be had to the connections made at the' load connector block.`

Service may thus be disconnected without removing the meter from the meter trough. In the closed position of the cover 42, a seal may be put through the opening in the member 4| and the capacity in a relatively small space.

cover thus sealed in the closed position. It will be noted that with the cover plates 38 in place, and the meters on the meter trough, the connections to the load wires are the only connections that are accessible.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided by this invention a meter trough that is divided into a service and a load compartment; there is provided a construction in which each meter socket is a separate removable unit that may be replaced or interchanged; and there is provided a service connector block and main service cables and sub-busses extending from the connector block to the various meter sockets. The whole forms a simple rigid construction which facilitates the installation of meters and the interconnection and distribution of electricity between independent consumers from common service mains. Furthermore, all connections are made through solderless connectors which are easily and readily mounted or demounted so that the whole construction provides a flexible construction, all parts of which are readily interconnected, changed or replaced. l

The particular embodiment of the invention disclosed in the drawings and described above is particularly suitable to a multiple meter trough where the service mains are of large carrying capacity. It will be noted that the distribution of the current takes place immediately at the tap from the service mains. Thus, in the meter trough illustrated the current is distributed to `the load served by the central meter at the tap and through the sub-busses on each side to the other meters. The sub-busses thus need be only one-third of the capacity of the service mains.

The arrangement provides a mounting for a plurality of meters of relatively heavy current Likewise, the branchconductors from the main service wires are so short, it is not necessary, as is usually required, to place fuses between the main service wires and the branch conductors; the fuses on the load side of the meter are adequate as they are close to the branching point. The removable feature of the meter sockets and sub-busses provides ready access to installing the service cables in the limited space available in meter troughs. 'Ihis is an important advantage, particularly when large service cables are required. The simplicity and compactness of the specic arrangement for making connections between the service cable and the sub-busses is also an important feature of the invention. It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawings and described above within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A meter trough of the type described comprising a sheet metal trough, a longitudinal partitionv in the trough dividing the trough into a service compartment and a load compartment,l

the partition having a section of lesser height than the side walls of the trough, a' connector block mounted in the service compartment, in cluding abase of insulating material and connectors for electrically connecting to, service mains,.a bridge element extending from the side wall of the service compartment and supported by the section of the partition section of lesser height, a connector block mounted in the load compartment of the trough including a base of insulating material and electrical connectors for electrically connecting load wires thereto, a meter rsocket mounted within the service compartment on said bridge element including clips to receive the blades of a. socket type meter, electrical conductors connecting the Service connectors to certain of said clips-and other electrical conductors connecting certain other of said clips to said load connectors.

2. A meter trough of the type described comprising a sheet metal trough, a longitudinal partition in the trough dividing the trough into a service compartment and a load compartment, the partition having a section of lesser height than the side Walls of the trough, a connector block mounted yin the service compartment, including a base of insulating material and connectors for electrically connecting to service mains, a bridge element extending from the side Wall of the service compartment and supported bythe partition section of lesser height, a connector block mounted in the load compartment of the trough including a base of insulating Vmaterial and electrical connectors for electrically connecting load wires thereto, a meter socket mounted within the service compartment on said bridge element including clips to receive the blades of a socket type meter, a strip electrical conductor extending from certain of said clips, a like number of strip conductors extending from said service connector block and positioned to engage the strips extending from theV clips, a solderless connector for securing connecting strips together, and electrical conductorsconnecting certain other of said clips to said load connectors.

3. A meter trough of the type described comprisin'g a sheet metal trough, aA longitudinal partition in the trough dividing the trough into a service compartment and a load compartment, the partition having a series of spaced sections of lesser width than a side wall of the trough, a connector block mounted on the base of the trough in the service compartment, a plurality of bridge elements one for each of the partition sections of lesser Width, each bridge element extending from the side wall of the service compartment and across the edge of a partition section of lesser width, a meter socket mounted within the service compartment on each bridge element including an insulating block and clip meter connectors mounted thereon, strip electrical conductors extending from said meter sockets and connected to lcertain of the clips thereof, strip electrical conductorsextending from said service connector block and positioned to contact with the strip connectors extending from one of said meter sockets, and busses electrically connecting similar strip conductors of the several meter sockets together.

4. In a, meter trough of the type described, the

combination comprising a sheet metal trough- Y shaped case, a partition vwithin the case forming a service compartment and a load compartment, the partition having a section of lesser width than a side wall of the trough, and a removable meter socket including a. bridge element extending from the side wall of the service compartment and resting upon the edge of the section of the partition of lesser Width, a pair of blocks of insulating material mounted on the bridge element, and connector clips for receiving the blades of a socket type meter mounted on the blocks of insulating material.

5. In a meter trough of the type described, the combination comprising a sheet metal troughshaped case, a partition within the case forming a service compartment anda load compartment,

the partition having a section of lesser widthl than a side wall of the trough, and a removable meter socket and service connector block within the meter trough including a bridge element extending from the side wall of the service compartment and into the load compartment, the bridge element resting upon the edge of the section of the partition of lesser width, a pair of blocks of insulating material mounted on the bridge element over the service compartment, a pair of connector clips for receiving' the blades of a socket type meter mounted on each block, a load connector block mounted on the bridge element in the service compartment of the trough, and conductorsA connecting the adjacent clip connectors of the meter socket to the load connector block.

-6. A meter troughof the type described comprising a sheet metal trough, a longitudinal partition in the trough dividing the trough into a service compartment and a load compartment, the partition having a section of lesser height than the side walls of the trough, a bridge element extending from'the side wall of the service compartment, overhanging the section 'of the partition of lesser height and extending into the load compartment, a meter socket mounted With- 

